Airlines are being threatened over transporting beagles to be used as guinea pigs in medicine tests.

As a municipal investigation continues, a Massachusetts woman who got attacked by "Amy" while walking in her neighborhood wants the dog put to death.

This week's Ethics and Religion Talk considers animal rights. What do you think about it?
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Ethics and Religion Talk, by Rabbi David Krishef

The opening of the Declaration of Independence reminds us that,
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights."

Are these rights limited to human beings? Reader Jason Ashley-Oswalt asks, "to what degree, if any, do you believe animals have rights?"

The Rev. Fred Wooden, senior minister of Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, suggests that “the notion of human rights itself is a rather recent one, dating back at most 500 years.” However, just because animals do not have rights does not mean that human beings have absolute authority over them. Here are some other thoughts from the panel:

Sister Mary Timothy Prokes is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in Lowell

"There is a distinction between 'possessing rights' and 'deserving respect.' Rights pertain to human beings who have immortal souls, and an eternal destiny. Animals, by their nature, do not have immortal souls with a capacity to reason and make moral choices. So, they are not held accountable morally or legally.

"While they do not have ‘rights,’ animals deserve respect and protection in ways that correspond to their nature. Perhaps no one has exemplified this wholesome relationship with animals more than St. Francis of Assisi who treated them with gentleness and familiarity.

“Animals provide humans with food, protection and companionship. They deserve respect in the way that they are raised and prepared for food. Disrespect of animals can happen in various ways. Abuse and needless suffering violate the gift of their being. On the other hand, treating house pets as pseudo-children also degrades their nature.

“Human stewardship of creation, including animals, is not absolute. It involves respect for the integrity of creation and its proper ordering.”

The Rev. David Christian is an associate pastor of Resurrection Life Church in Grandville

“America’s founding documents codify the rights which the Founders intuitively knew to be given by God to man; animals are not mentioned. It is not self-evident either in a divine or Constitutional sense that animals have the same rights as man.

“Yet, Scripture shows us that the Creator cares for the needs of animals: 'Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?' (Matt. 6:26).

“God expects man to be like Himself, and treat well the animals which He created: 'A righteous man regards the life of his animal.' (Proverbs 12:10).

“Just laws will govern human behavior toward animals, yet not bequeath rights to them. Our God-given conscience demands that we regulate our behavior towards the Creation: 'And (Jesus) answered them, saying, "Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the Sabbath day?"' (Luke 14:5).

“When laws elevate animals to man’s level, we lower ourselves. Of what creature did God say, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish...over the birds...and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing' (Genesis 1:26). Any new laws, to be just, must reflect the governance of man over the Creation, not Creation over man.”

The Rev. Laurie Haller is the pastor of Aldersgate and Plainfield United Methodist churches in Grand Rapids

“Foundational to our Judeo-Christian heritage is the belief that everything God created God called good. God gave the Earth and its creatures for us to use and enjoy, but we often forget the 'care for' part of God’s instructions. As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to respect and honor all living creatures, including animals. If we have pets, we are responsible for offering them a loving home. If we hunt, we are responsible for ensuring that the meat is used for food. If animals perform work, they are not to be overtaxed. In no case do we have license to abuse or neglect animals.

“Yet, ethical dilemmas continue to haunt us. Should we become vegetarians in order to avoid the inhumane slaughter of animals? Should we reduce consumption of meat, one of the most resource-intensive foods, in order to reduce our ecological footprint? Is it a sin to enjoy shooting a deer?

“Michael Pollan writes in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, 'Half the dogs in America will receive Christmas presents this year, yet few of us ever pause to consider the life of the pig – an animal easily as intelligent as a dog – that becomes the Christmas ham.'

“ ‘All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.’ ”

The responses from the Jewish and Islamic traditions are very similar to those above. If you disagree and believe that animals have rights, what rights do you believe animals hold? What is the legal or moral foundation for your belief?

Ethics and Religion Talk is compiled and written by David Krishef, rabbi at Congregation Ahavas Israel in Grand Rapids. Krishef takes questions from readers and shares them with a panel of clergy, then provides the responses in collaboration with MLive.com reporter Matt Vande Bunte. Please submit questions from your own day-to-day encounters to EthicsAndReligionTalk@gmail.com.